The German SME sector is innovative, export-strong and conscientious. To ensure this remains the case, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) have agreed on common goals for a modern SME policy in the key areas of entrepreneurial spirit, digitisation, finance, specialist workers and bureaucracy reduction.

The federal minister for economic affairs and energy, Sigmar Gabriel, says: “Our small and medium-sized companies are faced with a daunting task: They have to weigh up the opportunities and challenges of digitisation and integrate them into their corporate strategies. Access to appropriate financing is one aspect that is crucial to maintaining their innovative strength. At the same time, SMEs need skilled professionals and a clear reduction in bureaucracy.”

President of the DIHK, Dr. Eric Schweitzer, emphasises the need for SME-friendly tax policies and a reduction in bureaucracy: “An SME-friendly revision of inheritance tax should be at the top of the agenda. Modern adjustments in the cutting of red tape are long overdue. The depreciation of small investments should be raised to at least 1,000 euro and the compulsory retention period for tax documents should be reduced to five years. After all, even small levers have a big effect on SMEs.”

President of the ZDH, Hans Peter Wollseifer, underlines the importance of entrepreneurial spirit and qualified professionals: “The economy is aggressively seeking young entrepreneurs. We call on schools and universities to actively inform students about the opportunities and challenges. We have to ensure that student advisory services are complemented with careers advice.”

Business associations and the Federal Ministry for Economics Affairs are in agreement that the SME sector can be made more enthusiastic about the opportunities of digitisation. Vice president of the BDI, Dr. Reinhold Festge, says: “SME 4.0 presents enormous opportunities, especially across borders. If we want to take advantage of these, we need firm policy both in Germany and Europe. We need an appropriate regulatory framework, adequate protection for data and expertise, and, not least, the right training and education concepts.”

The Federal Ministry for Economics Affairs and Energy, the BDI, the DIHK and the ZDH will intensify their dialogue on SMEs in four regional conferences starting in the second half of 2015. They will present the results of the dialogue in spring 2016 at an SME summit in Berlin.

The joint declaration "Zukunft Mittelstand" (“Future of the SME sector”) can be accessed ​here (PDF: 1.5 MB). The associated Federal Ministry for Economics Affairs action programme can be found ​here (PDF: 524 KB).

[only in German]

This is a press release published by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy